Container for electrical apparatus



Oct. 25, 1949, s. NADELsoN CONTAINER FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1946 1N V EN TOR. egazmwZ/ c/Vblsom B l www,

' Oct`.r25, 1949. 5 NADELSON 2,485,837

ONTINER FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed March 14, 194e 2 sheetssheet 2 INVENTOR. caJn/uel/ c/deZ/Son/ BY a l Patented Oct. 25, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical apparatus, and particularly to containers or housings for various kinds of electric lamps, for electric fans, heaters, and many other types of electrical apparatus, and especially those capable of being housed or contained within a compact protective container.

One `of the objects of the invention is to provide a lamp or other electrical device with a casing or container which, when the lamp `.is stored, carried in an automobile, motorboat, or otherwise placed in a condition of non-use, will provide adequate protection for the lamp; will keep it clean, protect it from the leffects of atmospheric conditions and generally maintain the lamp in good condition, thereby increasing its Auseful life.

Another object of the invention is to provide,y in a protective casing or container, means byv which a removable cover member for the casing may be utilized as a supporting base for the casing and its contents, thus enabling the casing to be easily rested upon the ground, upon a table or on any other supporting surface, or enabling the cover to be used `as an attaching element by means of `which the casing may be either permanently yor detach-ably fastened to the wall, ceiling or other surface.

`Still another object of the invention is to provide a l-amp structure in which all parts of the lamp, including the lamp cord, may be conveniently stored within an improved casing structure, said casing structure including a Watertight and if necessary, an air-tight cover so that when the cover is in place, all parts Iof the lamp will be fully enclosed and protected. The invention contemplates the provision of a cover mein- .ber of such design and c-onstruction that said cover member can be used as a supporting means for the casing or container, enabling said cover member, when in its open position to serve as .a base upon which the casing or container may be rested or by which it may be attached to a `wall or other surface.

Since the present invention is applicable to various types of electrical devices, such :as lamps, heating and sun-lamps, electrical heaters, yfans and many other articles, the term lamp as herein used, is illustrative only, and is intended to comprehend such other electrical and mechanical devices Ias might be contained in a container iconstruction of the kind described.

The above objects, and other objects to be hereinafter sei-I forth are attained fby the structure to be described and more lparticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an i1- lustrative em-bodiment of the invention is shown, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the container in its closed position; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the container, ,the view being taken at right angles to :that of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is la side elevation 0f the open end of the container, showing the closure member or cover in a slightly raised position, preparatory to being swung to a position to act as a support for the container; a part of the body of the container is shown broken away and another part in section to disclose construction; Fig. 5 is a side elevation oi the container, Ishowing how the same may be supported on the cover or closure member; Fig. 6 is a sectional View through Ione of the pivot -pins or screws and parts associated therewith; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the container and its contents; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7, looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 9 is a top plan View of a modied for-m of closure or cover member, showing the same provided with c, carrying handle.

The body of the container or casing is shown at I, and the same, in the form disclosed, is of cylindrical shape, having a closed rear end or bottom 2, and being open at the top or forward end 3. The `casing or container body is provided with a cover member Aor closure 4 of a shape to enable it to dt over and close the open end 3 of the container and thereby co-operate with the container body to enclose the lcontents and protect the same. In the simple and illustrative form shown, the cover'member 4 is in the shape of la disk which ts closely against the edge of the side wall of the container. If desired, the cover member 4 may be formed with :a dependent skirt or ange tting around the top or open end of the container body, or a suitable gasket or washer 0r other satisfactory sealing means can be interposed between the cover and the container body to assure the securement of :a watertight, and if necessary an air-tight iit between the body of the container and the cover 4 4to thereby protect the contents of the container to Iany extent required.

The cover 4 is provided with a plurality of arms, two being shown in the present embodiment, and being indicated at -5 and 6, which, when the cover is in its closed position, extend down along the outside Iof the container body at diametricalllr opposite points on the same. Each of the arms is formed with an inwardly bent end portion 1, secured to the cover member 4 by means |of the rivets 8, or by other equivalent lfastening means,

so that each of said arms 5 and 6 constitutes a rigid extension from the cover member. In the arrangement shown, the arms are attached to the cover member in the manner described, although it is apparent that these arms might form integral extens-ions of the cover member 4 instead of being separate pieces secured thereto. To clear the inwardly extending portions 'I of the :arms 5 and 6, the side wall of the container is Iprovided with the two'notches;- 9; thesenoztches :accommodating the parts TI ofthe arms'and enabling'the cover to fit dat-wisely against the edges of the Ibody -of the container and provide a secure closure for.`

the container. A

Each of the arms 5 and 6"is provided'with' an elongated slot I extending longitudinallyfof'thei arm and extending through each slot and through the side wall of the container, isathrea'ded'setscrew II, threadably received in an aperturesI2 formed in a ring or annulus I3 located Within and closely conforming to the interior shape of the.. container body I. The rin'g or annulus` I 3. may be secured in position within the container, solely byI means of the set-screws II, or additional fastening means, such as rivets or screws, may be usedfor securing it in place.

Eachy of the `screws IIis provided with a head or knob permitting easy manipulation, and" a washer I4 is. interposed between the head I5v of the set-screw and the face of the arm through which the -screw extends. This arrangement is such that by tightening .the screws I I, a clamping pressure willbe imposed onthe arms 5 andj so that thesame may be rigidly positioned in respect tothe bodyof the container.

InFigs. 1 and 35, the cover. member 4 is shown in4 closedl position and is resting rmly against theedge of the wall. of .theconta-iner body to close the openend of the same. When the: cover is in this position, the tightening.` of the set-screwsI I willserve to hold the. cover in place and prevent it from being. displaced.

In addition to serving as. av cover or closure means forthe container, the cover member4 is adapted to also serve. as a1 supporting base for the lamp.v For example, in Fig. 5, the cover 4 has. been swung torsuch a positionv that it acts asa. base` upon which thecontainer canbe rested upon a. table, uponthe ground` or onany other available.Y surface. Since the pins. II actas pivotal supportsfor the. container body I, thecontainer canbe swung upon these` pivots andbrought to.

any desired angleV or inclination while restingupon` the. supporting base 4.

In shifting the cover member from-its closed.

position to that in which-it acts as a rest orsup-l port for the container, the cover is first ymoved axially of the container andawayfrom its open end .3, in the manner shown in Fig. 4, .andto anA extentnecessary to enable the cover to be swung on. the .pivots I I to bring it around to oneside of the container so thatit can act as a support for the same, as shown in Fig. 5.V The slotsr III` inthe arms 5' andV Gpermit the axial. movementoffthev cover and'its subsequentpivotal. movement,- as.

well'as a raising and lowering movementuntil vthe desiredposition of the container is secured, whereupon the set-screws II are tightened-to hold the container in its adjusted position.

Should it be desired to secure the lamp to a.

wall, ceiling or other suitable surface, the cover member 4 canact as asupporting bracket, and..

if desired, it can `be swung around to the back of the container, as shownin dotted. lines in Fig. 5,v and the cover member 4 .can then .beattached in..

any suitable manner to the Surface. An aperture I8 can, if desired, be provided in the cover member 4 to permit the passage of screws or other fastening means by which it may be attached.

The manner in which a lamp or other electrical device might be secured within the casing struc- -ture described, is indicated in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive. Therein a lamp structure, consisting of a lens 20 and reflector 2| attached together as a unit' in'xany, suitable way; is'.slrown.iitted.` within the casing-aand seated against .the ring` I3. The lamp structure is resiliently held against the seat I3 by means of spring clips 22, secured to the side wall.of-the..container. body by screws 23. It will be noted'that each of these spring clips is of substantiallysU-shape, being provided with an outer finger portion 24, so that these clips, in addition to Aresilientl'y'holdir1g the lamp structure in place, alsorserve as carriers for the lamp cord 25, which may be wound up on them and thus stored within the vcontainer body., I when thelampis Ynot in use. The cordj'extends from an outlet 2.6.at thefrear. of the. lamp structure and passes throughv an aperture 2 1' in the ring. I 3. to theiront Vof vthe vlens 20' so that it may-be. coiled' around the` clips 22. and`supportedtliereon when the lam-pis` not in use. The arrangement described! is such.. that when the. lamp notinusealloftlie parts-of the same aremaintainedina compact, orderly. fashion and. are storedlinsideof the. container. I. The conventional, trailingA cord and.. pli-1g, employed in most lamps, isthus dispensed with since the cord in thisstructure is.- enclosed in the. casing, it is woundupontheclips, .andthe cover II,`

when fitted in place over.` the. open end. 3 of the container will conne...alliparts.of the structure,- including the cord andlplug., insider of the'casing or container body, I.' Tousethelamp it is merelynecessaryto loosenthescrews I I, move the cover 4 axially, of 4thecontaimerbody andthen swing-it to the desired, supporting position. and then tightenthe screws. I I'. The lampcan then be placed. upon a. suitable support, or attached to any desiredfsurfaceand placed in use.` When the.

containeris in,I closed. condition, the contents are@y fully protected.. and Lth'e lstructure will. withstand hard knocks andV abuse withoutdamage tothe.. contained,` lamp. structure.1

Whilelhave describedone embodiment of thev invention, vitwillbe obvious thatmany c'l'iangesr` maybe made without-departing. from the' spi-rit of theinvention... For example, iniFig. 9, the2 cover member Lisi-shown.asbeingprovided with; aswinging handleD or bail 28,the same whenv folded. down beingdisposed within a-.depressi'on or. recess. 2.9 .in the coverso that it doesn-.ot inter--J fere withithe'standinggof. the.cover upon aria-tf surface. If. theUlamp f employed. is. battery-pow ered,. the space..- 30; within the container.'4 body tc the rear. ofthe lamp structure can -be employed to. hold.the. batteries, To. ysimpfllifythe mounting ofthe lamp withinthe container, `the springfclips- 22 might be secured to the ring or.v annulus I3U instead .ofl tor the wall. of.. the: container, thereby enabling. thev lamp=structure,. the-ring.y I3- and the springclipsto befassembledfoutside of the: container andthenplaced inthe container and:I held..therein by the set-screws ILand/orI other securing. means. The arms-=5s a-nd.-.6 ofthe cover' may beformed as. anintegral partI ofthe cover;y

and additional securing. means for: the coverl mightbe employed... Various other.: changesWiIl be.: apparent, such. changes.. being; contemplated@ aswithinthe scope ofthe claimsappendedheren i What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising, a casing for a lamp or other electrical device, said casing being open at the front end and closed at its rear end, a combined cover and supporting base for the casing consisting of a cover element shaped to fit over and close the forward open end of the casing, said cover having a Ilat outer face permitting it to be rested against a at surface, the cover member having slotted arms extending substantially normal to said face and rigidly secured to said cover and embracing the sides of the casing and being sldably and adjustably secured to the casing at diametric points along an axis passing lthrough the casing substantially at the intersection of medial longitudinal and transverse planes whereby the cover member may be either seated over the open front end of the casing or it may be swung to a position at either the side of the casing or behind the closed end of the casing to enable it to act as a supporting base for the casing while in either of the two latter positions, and said slots being of a length whereby the cover when positioned below the casing as a base support, the side arms will support the casing in an elevated position, and means for locking the arms in any position of the cover member relatively to the casing.

2. A device of the character described comprising, a casing for a lamp or other electrical device, said casing being open at the Vfront end and closed at its rear end, a combined cover and supporting base for the casing consistingy of a cover element shaped to nt over and close the forward open end of the casing, said cover having a flat outer face permitting it to be rested against a flat surface, the cover member having a pair of slotted arms rigidly secured thereto and projecting therefrom a distance greater than one-half the height or breadth of the casing and in a plane normal to said face and extending along opposite sides of the casing and being slidably and adjustably secured to the casing at diametric points along a line intersecting the casing substantially at the mid-point thereof whereby the cover may be either seated over the open front end of the casing or it may be swung to a position at either the side of the casing or behind the closed end of the casing to enable it to act as a supporting base for the casing while in either of the two latter positions, adjustable elements entering the slots in the arms, the slots being at the free ends of said arms and of suicient length to enable the cover member to be moved to any of the aforesaid positions to serve as either a closure or supporting base, the adjustable elements including means for locking the arms in any position of the cover member relatively to the casing.

SAMUEL NADELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 442,434 Harmer Dec. 9, 1890 1,199,596 Noll Sept. 26, 1916 1,431,822 Lamb Oct. 10, 1922 1,432,429 Thorpe Oct. 17, 1922 1,440,694 Potstada Jan. 2, 1923 1,798,079 Gilbert Mar. 24, 1931 2,267,707 Bosten Dec. 30, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,609 Great Britain 1908 34,397 France Jan. 2, 1929 406,847 France Dec. 17, 1909 

